New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-05-18
VAS HsHGTON LETTER.
Washington, May 18th, 1887.


The busiest place in Washington now
is the headquarters OF the National
Drill and the busiest man IS the mauag-
ing secretary, Mr.. De Leon. he sits at
his desk all day, and on the glass parti-
ton which shields him from intrusion q
sign is posted up that Mr.. DeLeon is
engaged. He is always busilF engaged,
and the sign is never taken down.
His office has quite 3 military air.
Pictures OF camp scenes, samples OF
camp cots, Autographs representing
tented field, with marching troops and
the Washington Monument looming up
above all, with other shadows OF the
coming event lie around, clerks are
busy at work at tables and in one cor
ner the Committee OF Public Comfort
has its headquarters. Here q register
is kept of rooms and beds available,
and, other information that might be Of
use to persons visiting the city during
drill week. The committee takes no
note of the large hotels, it seeks to
provide for those who cannot get into
the hotels, or who desire to live at less
daily expense than is usual at hotels.
At the last Inauguration this committee
did excellent work in hunting places
where accommodations could be afford
ed strangers, and then inviting CORE
spondence with those who wanted
rooms and board and it has undertak-
en- the same work for the National
Drill.
On the White Lot preparations are GO
ING on for the Drill and the large camp
ground is being enclosed. At the foot
of the Washington Monument the
troops of the North and South will
meet in fraternal spirit to vie for the
henors and prizes provided by the lib
crafty of the projectors of the under.
taking. When the project of holding a
National Drill here in May was first
preached last fall, it was taken up at
once by number Of energetic citizens
who by their personal influence and Ia
bors. and their liberal subscriptions in
money, at once assured the success OF
the whole affair. Committees were i'm
mediately organized, and steps taken
to assemble the flower OF the American
National Guard in Camp George
Washington.
The purposes of the Drill were set
forth in memorial to Congress. It
said, s'Within the past ten years inter-
state competitive drills of the volunteer
soldiers of the United States have been
held at different points in this country,
always with advantage to the drill, dis
cipline and morale OF the militia, and
with increasing interest and attention
of the several states. The idea has fre-
| quentlv been canvassed. and the feeling
over the Union has grown, that ma
tional competitive drill and encamp-
ment at the National Capital would not
only collect a larger body of represen-
tative soldiers, but would be OF more
importance and advantage from the ma
tional character the event would neces-
sarily attain amid national surround
ings," etc, etc.
AS to the rules of the camp, all COM
mands, unless their entry is accepted
with special. exception to the contrary,
will be required to enter camp and re-
main during the entire period of the
drill. The Washington troops will
form no exception to this order. AL
commands will be subject to camp
guard duty, daily dress parade, and te
all other rules promulgated by the Com
mandant of the camp, Gen. Anger
Tents, or barracks, and straw for bed
sacks will be furnished, but subsistence
will not. There will be camp res
taurant, at which meals may be pro
cured at a rate fixed by the managing
committee, and the keeper will be hell
to strict accountability as to prices ant
character of food, while companies do
ing their own cooking will be furnishes
with fuel and with mess quarters. Th
hospital and ambulance department
of the drill will be in charge of the Re-
Cross Society.
The prizes are probably the larges
!, ever offered. For the best company 9
infantry, for instance, the first prize
$4,000; second prize ST. 500; third priz
81 800; fourth prize $1,000; fifth priz
$500; total. SIC, 500. For the bes
company of cavalry the first prize
1000; the second $1,000. Then the1
are prizes for the best regiment Of il
~ 4 L = =.